Method of making clasp-bodies



(No Model.) J. H. DOOLITTLE.

METHOD OF MAKING CLASP BODIES. No. 357,910. Patented F eb. 15, 1887.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN H. DOOLITTLE, OF GREYSTONE, CONNECTICUT.

METHOD OF MAKING CLASP-BODIES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 357,910, dated February 15, 1887.

Application filed September 6, 1886. Serial No. 219,804. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OI-IN H. DOOLITTLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Greysto-ne, in the county of Litchfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of Making OlaspBodies; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in the method of making clasps for carriage-boots and the like, such as were patented to Robert Clingen, No.103,142, and has for its object to greatly facilitate and cheapen the manufacture of said clasps; and with these ends in view my invention consists in the process and series of operations hereinafter fully explained, and then recited in the claims.

In order that those skilled in the art to which my invention appertains may fully understand how to practice my improved method, I will describe the same in detail, referring by letter to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which Figure l is the square wire blank from which the clasp-body is bent up; Fig. 2, the blank shown at Fig. 1, but rounded as to its center; Fig. 3, the blank of the preceding figure bent into U form; Fig. 4, the U-shaped blank contracted at its ends; Fig. 5, the blank of Fig. 4 having its ends curled over; Fig. 6, the completed clasp open, and Fig. 7 the completed clasp closed.

Similar letters denote like parts in all the figures of the drawings.

In practicing my improved method I take a short length of wire square in cross-section and swage it round at its center, as appears at B, Fig. 2. I then bend it into U form, as seen at Fig. 3. By means of suitable bending mechanism the ends ofthe U are bent inward,

so as to lie parallel, leaving the head of the blank at this stage bowed, as seen at Fig. 4. I next bend the parallel ends backward toward the head of the blank, as seen at Fig. 5. Lastly, the clasp is assembled by pivoting the hooked tongue 0 between the backwardlybent ends, when the completed clasp appears, as seen in the last two figures.

Heretofo re clasps of this character have been made by casting the body and then milling into completed shape; butby my method I am enabled to produce the clasps more rapidly and at greatly-decreased cost.

I do not wish to be understood as laying claim to the clasp, but only to the process of making the same herein described.

Having thus described my invention, I clain1- 1.. The process herein described of making claspbodies, the same consistingin first bending a straight wire blank into approximately U form, then closing in the ends toward and parallel to each other,and finally bending said ends backward toward the bowed end of the body, substantially as set forth.

2. The method herein described of forming clasp-bodies,the same consisting in first round: ing the center of the square wire blank, then bending it into U form, then closing in the ends parallel to each other, leaving the head bowed, and, lastly, bending the ends backward upon themselves, so asto leave them hooked for the securing of the tongue, sub stantially as specified.

3. The method of making clasp-bodies of the kind described, which consistsin swaging and bending the same from a square wire blank, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereofI affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN H. DOOLITTLE.

\Vitnesses: I -S. H. HUBBARD,"

S. S. WILLIAMsoN. 

